Pathologic Processes

Necrosis. This term is used to describe the circumscribed death of tissue, and may be a consequence of many pathological processes induced by chemical injury. 

The elemental homeostasis is the particularity of total homeostasis of organism, the alteration of the parameters of this system may result in pathological changes. The liver is the organ where the detoxication processes take place. The elemental content of the liver may reflect the pathological processes which occur not only in the liver but also in the whole organism. 

The special interest is the determination of Fe, as the acceleration of sclerosed process is connected with the accumulation of Fe in this organ. Copper is accumulated in tissues at the genetic caused diseases (Wilson Disease, Hemochromatosis). This is the alteration in elemental ratios (e.g., Cu/Zn), that is the marker of pathological process. 

The role of integrins has been found in various pathological processes, including angiogenesis,... 

Platelets play a central role in primary hemostasis. They are also important in pathological processes leading to thrombosis. Antiplatelet drugs are primarily directed against platelets and inhibit platelet activation by a number of different mechanisms. They are used for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic processes, especially in the arterial vascular system. 

Diseases affecting skeletal muscle are not always primary diseases of muscle, and it is necessary first to determine whether a particular disorder is a primary disease of muscle, is neurogenic in origin, is an inflammatory disorder, or results from vascular insufficiency. A primary disease of muscle is one in which the skeletal muscle fibers are the primary target of the disease. Neurogenic disorders are those in which weakness, atrophy, or abnormal activity arises as a result of pathological processes in the peripheral or central nervous system. Inflammatory disorders may result in T-cell mediated muscle damage and are often associated with viral infections. Vascular insufficiency as a result of occlusion in any part of the muscle vasculature can cause severe disorders of muscle, especially in terms of pain, metabolic insufficiency, and weakness. 

The development of new therapentic procednres will be aided by a better understanding of physiological and pathological processes in the body. One area to which chemical engineers can contribnte is the application of engineering analysis to systems fonnd in the body. The... 

To summarize, research in the past decade has shown that NO plays an important role in many physiologic and pathologic processes. 

At the start of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, the peripheral nervous system involvement in HIV infection was not widely appreciated. However, as the number of cases grew, it became obvious that not only were peripheral neuropathies common in HIV infection, but were also present in all stages of the disease, from seroconversion through end-stage immunodeficiency. The neuropathic complications occurred as a result of a variety of pathological processes in HIV infection (Verma 2001). 

The purpose of this chapter is to examine, in some detail, the evidence that abnormal metabolism of free radicals is of pathogenic importance in a number of diseases. In order to do this, the contribution of free radicals to the inflammatory or pathological process will be... 

Under normal circumstances the arterial pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45. Acidemia is an abnormally low arterial blood pH (less than 7.35) while acidosis is a pathologic process that acidifies body fluids. Similarly, alkalemia is an abnormally high arterial blood pH (less than 7.45) while alkalosis is a pathologic process that alkalinizes body fluids. As such, although a patient can simultaneously have acidosis and alkalosis, the end result will be acidemia or alkalemia. 

Platelets play a role in each of the mechanisms of normal hemostasis vasoconstriction, formation of the platelet plug, and blood coagulation. However, they are also involved in pathological processes that lead to atherosclerosis and thrombosis (formation of a blood clot within the vascular system). Antiplatelet drugs interfere with platelet function and are used to prevent the development of atherosclerosis and formation of arterial thrombi. 

At present it is not clear whether extreme agitation, delirium, hyperthermia, and rhabdomyolysis are effects of cocaine that occur independently and at random among cocaine users, or whether these features are linked by common toxicologic and pathologic processes.20 Ruttenber and colleagues20 have examined excited delirium deaths in a population-based registry of all cocaine-related deaths in Dade County. This study has led to clear description of the cocaine delirium syndrome, its pattern of occurrence in cocaine users over time, and has identified a number of important risk factors for the syndrome. 

Volume 269. Nitric Oxide (Part B Physiological and Pathological Processes) Edited by Lester Packer... 

---